16th February, 2025

Adamstown Parish Newsletter

Saturday 15th & Sunday 16th February 2025

Volume 25.  Number 7

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ADAMSTOWN LOTTO

The next draw in the Adamstown Lotto takes place this Thursday 20^th February in Foley’s, Newbawn for a Jackpot of €3,600. Please leave books back in Cullen’s Gala by 8pm on draw night.

THURSDAY NIGHT CARD GAME

The weekly Thursday night Card Game continues in the Community Centre each week at 8.00pm. Winners on Thurs 13th Feb were: Tom Rochford, Johnny Nolan, John Hanley, Martin Cahill, Micksy & Breda Bolger, Kay Whelan, Paddy Furlong.

COLÁISTE ABBÁIN NEWS

Congratulations to Kayla Jackson (Leaving Cert Class 2024) on receiving an Academic Entrance Scholarship from University College Dublin for her outstanding Leaving Cert results.

“UCD recognises the calibre of its incoming high-achieving students with the award of UCD Entrance Scholar. The award is given to the Leaving Cert entrant with the highest points score”

Our Principal Mr. Nolan was very proud to attend the prestigious awards ceremony in UCD recently.  We wish Kayla the very best and know she has a bright future ahead.

ADAMSTOWN NATIONAL SCHOOL PARENTS ASSOCIATON

Adamstown National School Parents Association are holding a

Clothes Collection this Tuesday 18^th February from 9:10 – 9:30.

Drop off in car park across from the school. All proceeds made will go towards the Parent’s Association Fund.

ADAMSTOWN ICA NEWS

The ICA ladies organised a painting class for all members that was held on Wed 12^th February in the Art Room in Coláiste Abbáin. The class was run by Dawn Morley from Craft Central on Priory Quay, New Ross. She is a great character and had us in stitches during the class with her non-stop chat & stories. Dawn runs craft & painting classes for adults & children in New Ross, but this time she came to us. She provided all the equipment and paint required, so all we had to do was turn up. Under her instruction we all painted the same flower. I think it’s fair to say that none of our paintings were anything like the example she gave us, no surprise there. But every painting was really good and as Dawn said, represented what we saw and liked. We had such great fun and got some great tips from Dawn.

Mary J. Furlong provided us with a lovely supper and drinks. The drinks were non-alcoholic thankfully, or who knows how the paintings would have turned out!!  A great night was had by all, and I feel that it might be one we’d all like to repeat. Our next meeting will be on Wed 12^th March at 8pm in Coláiste Abbáin.

We are always happy to welcome new members and remember, you don’t have to be from the area to join us.

THE LAST BELLS OF MOUNT MELLERAY & THE CISTERCIAN HISTORY IN CO. WATERFORD.

The last bells of Mount Melleray sounded on Saturday January 25^th 2025 calling all locals and those from further afield to the final Mass to be celebrated in the Cistercian Abbey. The Cistercian community at Mount Melleray, which is in single figures, will travel to Roscrea, Co Tipperary along with the community from Mellifont, Co. Louth, to join the present community at Roscrea as a new community to be known as ‘The Abbey of Our Lady of Silence’.  The Cistercians had a presence in Ireland for many years before leaving for a period of time. When they returned to Ireland in 1833, it was decided by a group of English-speaking monks in France that a community should be reformed in Ireland. Richard Keane from Cappoquin House, a Protestant who served as an MP from 1832-1835 as a member of the Whigs Party, which opposed Catholic Emancipation, on hearing that Catholic monks were looking for a site to set up home in Ireland, offered them a nearby 600 acre site at Scrahan outside Cappoquin which they deemed suitable on a 99-year lease, they soon took over the land, building a monastery there which was renovated in 1933, the Centenary year of their setting up at the site they called Mount Melleray, using stone they had purchased from the demolition of Mitchelstown Castle after it was burned down by Republican’s over 10 years earlier. The Cistercians at Mount Melleray have been loved by, not just those in the area that they have lived, but also across much of West Waterford and into part of neighbouring North Cork and South Tipperary. The founder of the Abbey in Mount Melleray was Fr. Vincent Ryan from Waterford City. He was born in 1788 and entered the Cistercian Novitiate in Dorset in England where he was ordained a priest in 1815 and soon afterwards became Prior of Mount Melleray Abbey at Brittany in France, which included about 70 Irish priests and monks. After the second French Revolution in July 1830, religious discrimination was on the rise and many priests and monks were imprisoned. Over 60 Irish and English monks, however, escaped prison and made their way to Ireland by boat landing in Cobh in early December.  Soon afterwards, groups of men, first from Modeligo and then from many other outlying parishes, began to make their way to Mount Melleray. Work began on making the land suitable for the needs of the community, while a basic timber church was also built for the celebration of Mass and other services. Soon afterwards, Ireland experienced one of its many famines. Many people who were hungry approached the Cistercian community for something to eat and were never turned away. The community for many years ran a boarding school, but following Donogh O’Malley’s announcement in 1966 of free upper second-level education in Ireland, their school eventually closed in 1974.

(Thomas Keane – The Munster Express)

CHURCH NOTICES

IN MEMORIAM

Sat 15^th – Paddy O’Connor, Newtown (A)

Also Willie Walsh, Woodview Drive, (Month’s Mind)

Sun 16^th – Maisie Aldred, Brocurra (Month’s Mind)

Sat 22^nd – Aidan Hickey, Kellystown (A)

Sun 23^rd – Gillian Bradley, Ballyvergin (A)

Also – Julian Rothwell, (A)

Also – Peg Roche, Ballyshannon (A)

Pray for the following:  

Alice & Mary Connors, Woodview Drive (A)

Pat & Ann Byrne, Raheenduff (A)

Patrick Lawlor, Newtown (A)

and Nellie & John Mythen, Enniscorthy (A)

May they rest in peace.

Mass each week day morning at 9.30am.

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament every Thursday from 10.00am – 1.00pm.

READERS OF THE LITURY

Sat 15^th – Eoghan Greene   Sun 16^th – Neasa Cloney

Sat 22^nd – Cáit Bradley        Sun 23^rd – Family Mass

Sat 29^th – Anthony McGee.   Sun 1^st Mar – Betty O’Shea

LOURDES FERNS DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE 2025

The Ferns Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes 20^th – 25^th May 2025

Led by Bishop Ger Nash. Pilgrimage Director; Fr. Odhran Furlong: Spiritual Director: Fr. Brian Broaders.

Cost €865pps. Included: Return flights from Dublin.

5 nights in the 4* Hotel Roissy & 4* Hotel Astrid.

Breakfast, lunch & dinner each day. Services of a Marian Pilgrimage guide throughout. Mass daily & Spiritual activities.

All airport taxes and Local City Taxes. Travel insurance up to 85 years. Only €200 deposit required to book. Single room supplement €190. For further details & booking form

Contact Marian Pilgrimages: 01 8788159.

SYMPATHY

The death occurred recently in England of Michael Doyle, late of Templeshelin, Adamstown brother of Seamus Doyle, Knockreigh

We extend our deepest sympathy to Seamus, Callie and family, Knockreigh and also to Michael’s family, relatives and friends.

May he rest in peace.

ARC FAMILY RESOURCE CENTRE

Adamstown Gardening Workshop starting Thursday 20^th February from 2pm – 5pm. It is a 6-week Community Education Programme held at Adamstown Community Gardens. Bring gloves & boots. Contact Jessica for more info at 089 428 5037

LITTLE NELLIE OF HOLY GOD

On Sunday last Mr. John Donovan from Dungarvan, was the speaker at the monthly Prayer meeting. There was a video recalling the life of this little girl Nellie Organ. She was born in Waterford and as a baby her father carried her in his arms to Mass each morning. Then the family moved to Cork as Nellie’s mother contracted T.B. Her father got a job on Spike Island thinking the sea air would help is wife. Unfortunately, Nellie’s mother died and the family of five was split up, but the two girls were kept together and sent to the Good Shepherd Sisters.

Nellie was in poor health and spent much time in the Infirmary where the nuns took great care of her and were very fond of her.

They soon notice her holiness and her fascination with the Tabernacle and her strong desire to receive Holy Communion.

The priest and the local Bishop interviewed little Nellie and they too believed her holiness was genuine. The Bishop took her request to Rome and Pope Pius X agreed to let her receive Holy Communion although little Nellie was only four years old. Her story is one that could inspire children everywhere about to celebrate their First Holy Communion. Little Nellie’s life is quite extraordinary and a committee in Waterford, with Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan, has already begun the Cause for her Sainthood. Miracles have been attributed to Little Nellie over the years and we can all pray to Little Nellie and hope that we will soon have a new Saint in Ireland. At the end Fr. Robert blessed the group with a relic of Little Nellie. You too can watch a video on YouTube if you just type in ‘Little Nellie of Holy God’ and press on the play button symbol.

A THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

I asked God for strength that I might achieve;

I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.

I asked for health that I might do great things;

I was given infirmity that I might do better things.

I asked for riches that I might be happy;

I was given poverty that I might be wise.

I asked for power that I might have the praise of men;

I was given weakness that I might feel the need for God.

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life;

I was given life that I might enjoy all things.

I got nothing that I asked for,

But everything I had hoped for.

Almost, despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.

I am, among all people, truly blessed.

EVENING PRAYER (Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network)

Heavenly Father, I thank you for the gift of another day.

I offer again the love of this day, and, through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, I pray for the intention of Pope Francis for this month.